Tape-fastener.



H. L. ROBERTS.

TAPE fASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. II. I9I6.

1,205,024. PatndNov. 14,1916.

/////////////////////0m. WWW L INVENTOR `Amm/Vey HOBACE L. ROBERTS, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TAPE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application led February 11, 1916. Serial No. 77,570.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HORACE L. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTape-Fasteners, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to a tape fastener of simple construction whichis adapted to securely connect the ends of tapes, such as for example,are used in printing presses, folding machines and similar devices. Thefastener may be readily fitted to the tape and forms between theconnected tape ends a hinge joint of great strength and compactness.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure l is a plan of a fastener embodyingmy invention showing it applied to the tape; Fig. 2, a section on line2-2 Fig. l; Fig. 3, a cross section of the fastener showing it partlybent; Fig. 4, a plan of the fastener before being bent; Fig. 5, a crosssection on line 5--5 Fig. 4; Fig. (i, a cross section on line 6-6 Fig.4, and Fig. 7, a perspective view of the coupling member.

The device consists essentially of two oblong clips or bendable sheetmetal plates l, the length of the clips corresponding substantially tothe width of the tapes 2 to be connected. Each clip l is adapted to bebent along its longitudinal axis, so as to form a pair of wings thatstraddle the end of the tape. These wings may be secured to the tape bymeans of a plurality of integral teeth 3, which are punched out of theplate, and are arranged near the edges of the latter. Across the axis ofplate l, extend a plurality of transverse slots 4, four of such slotsbeing shown, though their number may be readily varied, a single slotbeing in fact, sufficient for a fastener of small size. Each slot 4, isintersected at its center by a longi-V tudinal groove or depression 5,formed in the face of plate l and extending along the axis thereof, thegroove being rounded in cross section, to correspond somewhat to theknuckle of a hinge joint.

The two plates constructed as described, which should be alike in allrespects, are

adapted to be hingedly connected to each other by means of couplingmembers one of which is more fully illustrated in Fig. 7. This couplingmember consists essentially of two parallel pins 6, which are ofcircularshape in cross section, and are connected to each other at theircenter by a fiat or other web 7, the whole approximating the letter H inappearance.

In use, the two pins 6 of the couplingV member are passed through thecorresponding slots 4 of a pair of superposed clips l, (see upper slotFig. 4), the coupling members are given a quarter turn to become seatedwith their pins in the grooves 5 so as to lock the plates together (seelower slots Figa 4), the clips are bent on their longibe readilyassembled and applied, and per-- mits a free rocking motion of the pinswithin their sockets, so that a hinge motion between the two members ofthe fastener may freely take place.

When the tape turns over small rollers, the clips will swing so freelyat their hingeconnection, that the teeth on such clips are relieved fromexcessive strain. Finally, am-

ple metal is provided for in the clip plates at the hinges, so that thelatter is thoroughly stiffened and not liable to open.

I claim: j

A tape fastener comprising a pair of oblong bendable plates having slotsextending transversely of the same, said plates being provided withgrooves arranged axially thereto and intercepted by said slots, an Hshaped coupling member composed of a pair of parallel pins and of a webconnecting said pins, said pins being adapted to lie in said grooves andthe webs to project through said slots, whereby said plates are lockedtogether, said plates provided with means for securing them to a tape.

HORACE L. ROBERTS.

Gopies of this patent may be vobtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

